George Bull

George Bull was the third son of the Resident Magistrate of Newry, Co. Down. He served in the South African War (1900-2) with the 5th [Militia] Battalion Royal Irish Rifles. He did not receive a Regular commission until 9 December 1903 and then only in the Royal Garrison Regiment. At 26 he was a rather elderly second lieutenant. Bull transferred to the Leinster Regiment in 1905 and to the Royal Irish Fusiliers in 1907.

When the Great War broke out he was attached to the 5th [Territorial] Battalion East Lancashire Regiment as its Regular Adjutant, but was allowed to proceed to war with 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers. Within little more than a year Bull found himself promoted to temporary lieutenant-colonel as CO 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, part of the 36th (Ulster) Division, with which he served on the Somme, winning the DSO.

He was promoted brigadier-general on 3 December 1916, as GOC 8th Brigade, 3rd Division. Three days later, Brigadier-General Bull was wounded by a sniper while on a tour of the trenches. He died on 11 December and was buried in Varennes Military Cemetery. He was 39.

Bull was the twenty-eighth general officer to be killed or to die of wounds on the Western Front.